Mark 12:41-44
Roman Glass Tear Bottle | Time of Jesus Roman Period Artifact 1st Century AD - Found in En Gedi, Israel
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Description
Description
This ancient Roman glass tear bottle, dating back to the 1st century CE, was discovered in En Gedi, Israel—a site with profound historical and spiritual significance. Known as a "lachrymatory," this delicate vessel was used to collect and preserve the tears of mourners, a practice that symbolized grief, devotion, and remembrance in the Roman and biblical world. Its slender neck and rounded base are hallmarks of Roman glassblowing craftsmanship, while its shimmering iridescence, developed naturally over centuries of burial, adds to its beauty and historical depth.
Tear bottles were deeply personal objects, often kept as tokens of love or buried with the deceased as a gesture of eternal remembrance. This particular bottle’s origin in En Gedi—a fertile oasis mentioned in the Bible—further ties it to the customs and emotions of life during Jesus’ time.
Biblical Significance
Tears hold a special place in biblical texts, symbolizing sorrow, repentance, and prayer. Psalm 56:8 poetically describes God collecting tears in a bottle, illustrating His care and compassion for human grief. Found in En Gedi, a location referenced in the Song of Songs as a place of beauty and refuge (Song of Solomon 1:14), this tear bottle is a tangible connection to the emotional and spiritual practices of the biblical era. It serves as a poignant reminder of the rituals of mourning and divine comfort during the 1st century CE.
Weight: 33.4 grams
Height: 11.5 cm
Period and Time
Period and Time
Early Roman Empire (27 BCE – 284 CE)
The 1st century CE was a period of Roman dominance in the region, during which local customs often intertwined with Roman traditions. Tear bottles were commonly used during mourning rituals, symbolizing grief and the memory of loved ones. En Gedi, a lush oasis near the Dead Sea, was an important settlement in ancient Israel and a center for agriculture and trade. The discovery of this tear bottle in En Gedi highlights the cultural and spiritual interplay between Roman innovation and local traditions during Jesus' time.
Material
Material
Hand-blown Roman glass
Roman glass was crafted using silica-rich sand and natron, allowing artisans to create delicate, translucent vessels. This tear bottle features a narrow neck to preserve its contents and a stable, rounded base. The natural iridescence seen on its surface is the result of centuries of interaction with the mineral-rich soil of En Gedi, adding a unique and captivating aesthetic to this artifact. These vessels were cherished for their emotional significance and as symbols of love, loss, and remembrance.